Strategic partnerships help speed up clearance

There’s been steady growth in cross-border volumes since the festive season, according to Mahaveer Chavda, CEO of Chavda & Associates, with mines fully operational after the December slow- down and with projects kicking off. And road freight has been in high demand, he said. “It significantly reduces the clients’ costs and transit time when compared to air and sea shipments which, once cleared, still need to be moved to final delivery sites. And these are sometimes in remote places.” For this reason, he said, there’s been steady growth in road freight volumes – and the outlook for the year is very positive. But the lack of knowledge by importing countries of road freight procedures is a concern, he added. “A lot of South African suppliers have not been gearing up for exports and they don’t have the required licences and other documents.” He said clearing agents at the borders were also not always fully aware of these procedures and unnecessarily delayed the clearing process at the destination, causing unnecessary standing time which impacted costs. The company is streamlining the movement of cargo into northern Mozambique in particular, he added. It is also entering into partnerships with strategic clearing agents at the borders in order to speed up the clearing process and minimise standing time of its fleet. INSERT & CAPTION Steady growth in road freight volumes – and the outlook for the year is very positive. – Mahaveer Chavda